Rental Market in Spain: New Trends
In recent months, Spain’s largest cities have seen a noticeable acceleration in the process of renting out apartments. The market remains tense: rental prices continue to rise, while the number of available properties has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Experts attribute this not only to high property purchase prices, but also to tighter regulations from authorities, which affects the behavior of property owners.
One-Day Rentals: Where Is This Most Common
Amid high demand and limited supply, the so-called ‘lightning-fast rental’ is becoming increasingly common—when a rental listing is removed less than 24 hours after being posted. This trend is especially prominent in Barcelona, where in almost every district, more than 10% of listings close within a day. The only exception is the Ciutat Vella district, where the rate is 6%.
In the Sant Andreu and Horta Guinardó districts, the share of such deals reaches 22% and 21%, respectively. The Nou Barris district is also close to these figures at 19%. Notably, these very districts are considered the most affordable in terms of rental prices—less than €17.5 per square meter per month.
Experts point out that in Barcelona, negotiating rental prices is virtually impossible. Moreover, there are cases where rent ends up being higher than initially advertised, as the number of prospective tenants exceeds the available supply.
In other areas of the city, such as Sant Martí, Gràcia, and Sants-Montjuïc, the proportion of rapid transactions is 14-15%. In the central districts of Eixample, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, and Les Corts, this figure holds steady at 10-11%.
The situation in Madrid, Valencia, Seville, and Malaga
In Madrid, express rentals are less common. However, in neighborhoods like Moratalaz, Latina, and Puente de Vallecas, about 10-11% of listings are closed within 24 hours. In more affordable areas, such as Vicálvaro, Villaverde, and Barajas, the rate is lower—5-9%. In upscale districts like Retiro, Chamartín, Centro, Chamberí, and Salamanca, the share of express deals does not exceed 6%.
In Valencia, the Jesús neighborhood leads with 18% of rapid transactions, followed by Rascanya with 10%. Other districts, even those with lower prices, do not show such high rates. In more expensive areas like L’Eixample and Poblats Marítims, the express rental rate is 6-7%.
In Seville, fast rentals are most noticeable in Cerro Amate and Santa Justa – Miraflores – Cruz Roja, where the rate reaches 16% and 10% respectively. In the city center, the share of express deals is below 10%.
In Malaga, the highest activity is seen in Churriana and Teatinos—13% and 10% respectively. In more expensive areas, such as Este and Cruz de Humilladero, the rate does not exceed 4%.
Causes and consequences of accelerated transactions
Analysts attribute the rise in express deals to the ongoing imbalance between supply and demand. As available apartments become increasingly scarce and the number of people seeking rentals grows, tenants are forced to make decisions as quickly as possible. This is especially evident in Barcelona, where market restrictions and intense competition mean apartments disappear within just a few hours.
